TFC players subsequently named to the MLS team

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SAN FRANCISCO -- Tim Lincecum and two relievers combined on a five-hitter, and Lincecum drove in a run with a safety squeeze, helping the San Francisco Giants beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 5-0 on Friday night. . Pablo Sandoval homered and drove in three runs to break out of a slump that extended back to late June. The Giants third baseman, hitting just .222 over his previous 16 games, also had an RBI-double and an infield single. Lincecum (9-5) allowed three hits over seven innings and fanned Gerado Parra to end a two-on, two-out jam in the seventh. The two-time NL Cy Young Award winner, owner of a no-hitter this season, struck out six and walked two. Even longtime nemesis Paul Goldschmidt struggled against Lincecum. The Arizona first baseman went hitless in three plate appearances against the right-hander. It is the first time Lincecum has won four consecutive starts since April 5-23, 2010. During his current streak, he has given up just one run over 30 1-3 innings -- a remarkable 0.30 ERA. Lincecum helped himself at the plate and recovered after stumbling over the bag while covering first base on Aaron Hills infield grounder for the final out in the third. Juan Gutierrez pitched 1 1-3 innings and Jeremy Affeldt got the final two outs to complete the shutout. San Francisco had lost 15 of its last 19 games at AT&T Park before jumping on Arizona starter Mike Bolsinger (1-6) for two runs in the first and two more in the second. Sandoval got the Giants going with his 11th home run of the season, a two-run blast to right. Brandon Crawfords RBI single in the second made it 3-0. Lincecum followed with a safety squeeze to drive in Joe Panik, who walked and took third on Crawfords hit. Hunter Pence and Brandon Belt opened the fifth with consecutive singles before Sandoval doubled down the left field line to extend the Giants lead to 5-0. Bolsinger gave up five runs and eight hits over five innings. The Arizona rookie struck out five and walked two but is winless since April 24. Before the game the Giants activated second baseman Marco Scutaro from the disabled list. The 38-year-old infielder, who played a pivotal role in San Franciscos march toward the 2012 World Series championship, has not played this season because of a lower back strain. The Diamondbacks welcomed back one of their key players but didnt get the same spark. Outfielder Mark Trumbo, sidelined with a stress fracture in his left foot since April 21, went 1 for 4 and grounded out to third to end the game. NOTES: Lincecum has pitched 27 consecutive scoreless innings at AT&T Park. ... Scutaro will make his first start Saturday. ... Arizona C Miguel Montero was named to the NL All-Star team as a replacement for injured St. Louis catcher Yadier Molina. Its Monteros second All-Star selection. ... Goldschmidt has reached base safely in 31 straight games, matching his career high. ... To make room for Trumbo, the Diamondbacks optioned OF Roger Kieschnick to Triple-A Reno. ... LHP Wade Miley (4-6), Arizonas starting pitcher on Saturday, has a 3.63 ERA in seven career games against San Francisco. ... Giants RHP Ryan Vogelsong (5-6) has lost his previous three starts. ... San Francisco signed first-round draft pick Tyler Beede to a contract that includes a signing bonus of more than $2.6 million. Beede was the 14th overall pick in last months draft. ... To make room for Scutaro, 2B Brandon Hicks was designated for assignment. . - From his perch atop Regan Smiths pit box, team owner Dale Earnhardt Jr. . In many ways he was a different person with different responsibilities, different motivations. He had a lot to prove but he wasnt fully ready to prove it, not like he is now. . The Lions traded their fifth overall pick in the 2014 CFL Draft to the Ottawa Redblacks for QB Kevin Glenn.TORONTO -- Ask people who know Bradley Orr and the reviews of the veteran English fullback are glowing. A great teammate. An experienced professional. A player to watch and learn from. "Hes a fabulous member of any squad," said Toronto FC captain Steven Caldwell, whos known the 31-year-old Orr for more than 15 years and shares an agent. "A real character, a real winner." That character, in part, was forged the hard way. As a young man, he made mistakes that led to jail. Then the Liverpool native learned from them. If Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment is looking for someone to mentor 21-year-old Raptors centre Jonas Valanciunas, charged this week with drunk driving, it probably need look no further than its sister soccer team and Orr. He made headlines in 2006 when he was one of three Bristol City players jailed for their part in a nightclub brawl. A fourth player was given community service. Orr and a teammate were sentenced to 28 days in jail. Wales international David Partridge was given two months behind bars. The players were also suspended and fined two weeks wages by their club. "Soccer Heroes in Prison Shame" was the headline in Englands Sun tabloid. It didnt help that just days before sentencing, Orr was sent off for attempting to head-butt a teammate during a nationally televised game. Some eight years later, Orr believes his biggest mistake was just being at the Romeo Browns nightclub. "Not a lot of people actually know the story and what happened," said Orr, who doesnt shy away from his past or his missteps. A teammate -- "not necessarily a friend" -- was thrown out of the nightclub and then became involved in a brawl with bouncers, two of whom were also charged later. "Things got out of hand. It was wrong place wrong time," said Orr. "He ended up getting a beating. I tried to stop it, got caught up in it and ended up finding myself in prison at the age of 23. "Not ideal but I probably wouldnt change it, because from that, a lot of thought and reflection went on. I decided there and then its either give it everything youve got and try to make the most of this amazing opportunity that Id been given. Or Im going to find myself like many other lads around the same age, and certainly from the same city, on the scrap heap where youve got a bit of ability, youve got the talent but you havent quite got the mentality or the maturity or the discipline to succeed." Orr said he made "little adjustments," worked on his weaknesses and "really knuckled down and gave it everything." "Its eight years down the line and Im still playing football for a living. Ive got an amazing family here with me. Ive got a lot of people who mean a lot to me." Many of those stuck by him during those "dark times." "I was a young lad, I was distraught. I thought my career was finished. You think the worst at that age and I had 23 hours a day to think about it in a cell." "Im just glad I learned from a mistake, in a positive way," he added. "The outcome since then has pretty good so far. I think Ive had a decent enough career and oone I can look back (at) with pride. . "Even though that was an isolated incident and Im not proud of it, I certainly wouldnt change it because its probably helped make me who I am." Orr pleaded guilty based on advice that he would get some kind of community service. His father and girlfriend came to court, expecting to drive him home. Instead he was taken directly below to the cells. Orrs soccer journey featured stints with Newcastle United, Burnley, Bristol City, Queens Park Rangers, Blackburn Rovers, Ipswich Town and Blackpool before joining Toronto FC on loan in late January. He spent the bulk of his career with Bristol City, playing more than 225 games between 2004 and 2010. At 31, Orr is one of the grey beards on Toronto FCs squad. Only Dwayne De Rosario (35), Caldwell (33) and Jermain Defoe (by less than a month) are older. Orr showed his value Saturday in Columbus when injuries and suspension pressed him into service as centre back, alongside 21-year-old rookie Nick Hagglund. Toronto blanked the previously unbeaten Crew 2-0 with Orr one of three TFC players subsequently named to the MLS team of the week. The performance out of position is just why manager Ryan Nelsen acquired Orr. "For me, we needed just hardened guys who have kind of seen both sides of the tracks, if you know what I mean," Nelsen said. "Just so our young guys can learn what it takes to be a pro, to win away (games), to do the little things that it takes to be a good team. And you generally learn that from experience." Nelsen knows talent is not everything. Character plays a huge role in how far a player goes. "Our young guys have got to see that. Because its the best lesson to learn, that theyve got to do a lot of ugly stuff before they can kind of get to that top." Ask Orr about Hagglunds performance in Columbus and the veteran beams. "He was fantastic. I was delighted for Nick. His attitude towards his profession is absolutely (a) different class. He comes in every day really willing to learn and work hard. And theyre the type of lads who you want to see do well." One of the reasons Orr opted for MLS was he wanted to take himself out of his comfort zone and test himself. He has not regretted the move. Orr, who came to Canada with his wife and five-year-old twin boys, has marvelled at the passion of Torontos fans for sports. "Its really mind-blowing," said Orr. He is also blown away by Toronto FCs set-up "How can you not love this place?" he asked, pointing at the clubs well-appointed training centre. "The facilities are world-class. The citys fantastic." "So far Im loving it. Hopefully that can continue and I cant see no reason why not," he added. Orr has jumped right into Torontos sports community, taking in both Leafs and Raptors games. Hes also not afraid of getting out among the fans. A lifelong "big, big" Liverpool fan -- his 21-year-old nephew Jon Flanagan plays for the Reds -- Orr recently found out where the local supporters club was based. So he and Caldwell, with sons in tow, dropped in to see a recent Sunday game over breakfast. ' ' '